Jeremy Shamrowicz and his business partner, Jesse Meyer, grew up loving art. They loved everything from how it was designed to how it was molded and crafted.

The two met at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design and have taken their love of art and turned it into a successful business. Since starting their business, Flux Design Inc., Milwaukee, more than six years ago, they've seen steady revenue increases and ever-increasing demands for their art-inspired furnishings. Flux Design, 811 E. Vienna Ave., is a custom design build firm that creates furniture, art pieces and interior design for residential and commercial clients. One of the firm's more notable pieces of artwork is the 3,000-pound steel globe in front of GE Healthcare's new building in Wauwatosa.

Co-owners Shamrowicz, 33, and Meyer, 29, started the company in 1999 as Gallery 326 in Milwaukee's 3rd Ward in rented second-floor loft space. They participated in a Gallery Night that year and sold two furniture pieces for $150 each. They were soon commissioned to design the interior of Eve, a nightclub at 718 N. Water St., and Bop, a high-end boutique in Madison.

"Our Gallery Nights got so popular that we would have a line around the block to get in like we were a club," Meyer said.

Flux's portfolio also includes work for the Twisted Fork, the Velvet Room and Sauce, all Milwaukee restaurants. Flux was recently contracted for interior design at the Water Buffalo, a restaurant in the 3rd Ward. The firm also was a designer for arches over the riverwalk for the city of Milwaukee.

In 2000, the partners renamed the business Flux and opened a bank account with a $200 check. They've used cash flow to finance Flux's growth.

Shamrowicz runs the business operation while Meyer oversees the creative design.

Flux refers both to material that bonds pieces together and to the theme of multiple materials used to create one finished product.

"The name just fits," Shamrowicz said. "We can use anything to create art."

Adding staff

By the second year of the business, Flux started hiring employees, adding eight that year. Many of them were Shamrowicz and Meyer's friends from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. They now employ a staff of 14.

In its first year after incorporating as Flux, the business generated $70,000 in sales. By 2005, revenue reached just under $1 million. This year, the owners project revenue of $2.1 million.

The employees at Flux work between 50 to 80 hours a week.

"We're a young firm and know what has to happen here in order to succeed. We work a lot of long hours but we know we'll succeed," Shamrowicz said.

Flux's business has increased mainly due to word of mouth marketing. The firm's work also received attention when it was featured in a book detailing 100 of the world's best bars.

Flux charges $85 per hour to design and build out artwork with additional costs for materials. For example, a table designed by Flux costs approximately $1,500. To build out an entire restaurant -- including detailing the floor and walls, and building tables, chairs and a bar -- can cost about $350,000.

Approximately 35 percent of Flux's work is from architectural firms that seek its services.

The globe created for GE Healthcare in Wauwatosa paid six-figures but Shamrowicz declined to disclose the price. The GE job, which took four weeks to complete, was commissioned by Eppstein Uhen Architects, Milwaukee.

"The sculpture we collaborated with them on is really the focal point of the building," said John Chapman, design principal with Eppstein Uhen. "We went with Flux because we wanted something contemporary and cutting edge."

In addition, Eppstein Uhen wanted a structure that looked high-tech.

"Flux is one of few design studios that could pull something off like that in the short time we had," Chapman said.

While the firm is best known for its commercial work, the majority of customers are residential. Flux is active in new condo units being built in and around Milwaukee.

Corporate attention

After corporations learned Flux had created the GE piece, many called with requests for corporate artwork.

The next step for Flux is to begin expanding its product offerings. Flux's owners plan to begin selling furniture in architect catalogs and furniture boutiques. They want to create sets of furniture from couches to tables and chairs. Entertainment centers are also on the list.

The expansion into furniture sets will cost the business approximately $150,000 to $200,000 for new equipment and materials. The company will finance the growth.

One of Flux's challenges is getting clients to realize that it can do more than metal designs. Flux developed a reputation for its custom handrails and metal tree tables.

"People associate us with metal, but we want to do other stuff. We like to integrate," Shamrowicz said. "We're artists and don't want to build the same thing over and over."

What was the reason for starting your business? "Jesse Meyer and I wanted to make art, furniture and interior spaces. Our company is centered around working with clients to make experiences and works of art."What has been your toughest business decision? "Our decision to split our roles in running the business and building out our projects. It was a difficult transition, because we each had to let go of something we were really passionate about."What was your worst business decision? "Bringing on too many close friends. A core group has stayed the course, and thankfully we've maintained strong relationships with those that have moved on. But, you know the age old saying 'never move in with your friends?' Imagine living with them, building a gallery with them and starting a business with them."What is the biggest risk you've taken so far? "We built this company without borrowing anything from a bank -- two guys, fresh out of school. We took on some hefty projects without any financial flexibility, it was undeniably stressful."What was your biggest mistake? "I would have to say that the hardest lesson we learned, was how to write an effective contract. We took some serious risks early on and got burned."